Written Answers Thursday 11 March 2010

Alcohol

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many people and (b) what percentage of the population were estimated to exceed the recommended levels of alcohol intake in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) NHS board area, (ii) deprivation quintile, (iii) age range and (iv) gender.

Shona Robison: Alcohol consumption is measured in terms of both daily and weekly drinking.

  The Scottish Health Survey 2008 report contains the latest data on daily and weekly drinking in Scotland. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28102003/0.

  Data are not available for the last five years as the Scottish Health Survey was previously run in 1995, 1998 and 2003. It became a continuous survey in 2008 and will report annually from now on. In 2003, the conversion factors used to calculate alcohol consumption were updated and therefore any trend data is only available from 2003 onwards.

  (i) Breakdowns are not yet available for NHS board areas. From 2008, the survey was designed to provide NHS board breakdowns after four years of data collection. Breakdowns for all NHS boards will not therefore be produced until data for the period 2008-11 are available.

  (ii) Tables 3.4 (weekly) and 3.10 (daily) of the above report provide breakdowns of those exceeding recommended alcohol levels by SIMD deprivation quintile.

  (iii) and (iv) tables 3.1 and 3.2 of the above report provide information on those exceeding weekly recommended levels broken down by age and gender for 2003 and 2008 and tables 3.6 and 3.7 provide a similar breakdown for those exceeding recommended daily levels.

  The following tables provide information on the proportion of people who exceeded either weekly or daily recommended levels of alcohol intake.

  Table 1 – Adults Exceeding Recommended Alcohol Levels by Age and Sex, 2008

  

 
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75+
Total


%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%


Drank above daily or weekly recommended levels or both1,2


Men
58
57
54
55
50
39
21
51


Women
61
49
49
45
38
21
8
40


Bases (weighted)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Men
379
473
559
548
478
325
217
2,981


Women
380
486
614
584
502
382
348
3,296


Bases (unweighted)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Men
209
310
455
529
523
449
303
2,778


Women
288
449
646
626
630
513
408
3,560



  Source: Scottish Health Survey.

  Notes:

  1. Defined as those who reported drinking above either the daily or weekly recommended levels or both.

  2. Government recommendations in relation to daily drinking are that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units per day and women should not regularly drink more than two to three units per day. It is also recommended that both men and women have two alcohol free days a week. The guidance in relation to weekly drinking levels are that men should not drink more than 21 units and women not more than 14 units per week.

  Table 2 - Adults Exceeding Recommended Alcohol levels by SIMD quintile and sex, 2008

  

 
1st (most deprived)
2nd
3rd
4th
5th (least deprived)


 
%
%
%
%
%


Drank above Daily or Weekly Recommended Levels or Both1,2,3


Men
48
50
52
52
52


Women
34
41
40
41
47


 
 
 
 
 
 


Bases (weighted)
 
 
 
 
 


Men
559
608
543
728
542


Women
658
677
619
727
615


Bases (unweighted)
 
 
 
 
 


Men
458
531
582
728
479


Women
647
669
745
887
612



  Source: Scottish Health Survey.

  Notes:

  1. Defined as those who reported drinking above either the daily or weekly recommended levels or both.

  2. Government recommendations in relation to daily drinking are that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units per day and women should not regularly drink more than two to three units per day. It is also recommended that both men and women have two alcohol free days a week. The guidance in relation to weekly drinking levels are that men should not drink more than 21 units and women not more than 14 units per week.

  3. Figures have been age standardised.

Alcohol Misuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions there were in NHS Tayside in the last year for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on how many alcohol-related accident and emergency (A&E) admissions there were in the last year in NHS Tayside is not available centrally.

  Information on the number of A&E attendances which resulted in an alcohol-related inpatient or day case episode in hospitals in Tayside is shown in table 1.

  Table1: Acute1 inpatient2 and day case discharges with an alcohol-related diagnosis3,4,5 recorded in any position, where the patient was referred from an A&E department to hospitals in Tayside Health Board of treatment, financial year 2008-09P:

  

Tayside
84



  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals.

  2. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases in an acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients.

  3. Discharges where alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded as primary or secondary reasons for admission to hospital.

  4. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10). Alcohol-related: F10, K70, X45, X65, Y15, Y90, Y91, E24.4, E51.2, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K86.0, O35.4, P04.3, Q86.0, T51.0, T51.1, T51.9, Y57.3, R78.0, Z50.2, Z71.4, Z72.1. These codes were defined in a recent in-depth review of ISD’s core alcohol-related code set. Further information about the review and resulting consultation process is available at http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/3986.html.

  5. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital.

  Information in table 1 is likely to be a significant underestimate of the number of alcohol-related A&E attendances as not all patients attending A&E for alcohol-related problems will subsequently be admitted to hospital. Also this table will not include alcohol-related A&E referrals where the alcohol-related problem has not been recorded on the patients SMR01 diagnosis summary.

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related accident and emergency admissions there were in NHS Lothian in each of the last three years, broken down by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: While the number of accident and emergency (A&E) admissions is collected for hospitals in NHS Lothian, information on how many alcohol-related accident and emergency (A&E) admissions there were in NHS Lothian is not available centrally.

  The number of A&E attendances that resulted in an inpatient stay and alcohol-related discharge from hospitals in NHS Lothian is shown in table 1. The most recent year for which information on alcohol-related discharges is available is 2008-09.

  Table 1: General acute1 inpatient and day case2 discharges with an alcohol-related diagnosis3,4, in any position, where the patient was referred from an A&E department to hospitals in Lothian Health Board of treatment: Financial Years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09:

  

2006-07
2007-08
2008-09P


2,823
4,297
4,751



  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals.

  2. Figures in this table relate only to those individuals who are treated as inpatients or day cases in a general acute hospital. They do not include individuals managed as outpatients.

  3. Diseases recorded using the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10). Alcohol-related: F10, K70, X45, X65, Y15, Y90, Y91, E24.4, E51.2, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K86.0, O35.4, P04.3, Q86.0, T51.0, T51.1, T51.9, Y57.3, R78.0, Z50.2, Z71.4, Z72.1.

  4. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol-related problems may vary from hospital to hospital. The information in table 1 is likely to be a significant underestimate of the number of alcohol-related A&E attendances as not all people attending A&E for alcohol-related problems will subsequently be admitted to hospital. Also this table will not include alcohol-related A&E referrals where the alcohol-related problem has not been recorded on the patients SMR01 diagnosis summary.

Armed Forces

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the establishment of a veterans’ centre in Glasgow along the lines of those currently operating in Edinburgh and Dundee.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government provides financial and other support to a range of veterans’ organisations across Scotland that own and manage facilities such as Veterans First Point, Holybush House and Mark Wright House in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, the NHS in Scotland, the Armed Forces and veterans’ organisations. Should any organisation have plans to develop new or improved facilities in Glasgow, the Scottish Government will be prepared to explore how best these might be taken forward.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, given the increasing role of the third sector in providing services for blind and partially sighted people, what steps are being taken to improve the capacity of voluntary organisations to recruit and retain volunteers.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognise the valuable role that the third sector plays in helping deliver services, not only for blind and partially sighted people, but across the entire sector. We will continue to work with our partners in the third sector ensuring that appropriate services are available for those that require them.

  For example, the Scottish Government has provided funding of £2.2 million over this financial year, and next financial year, to various third sector partners in order to develop and lead seven sensory impairment "one stop shop" models of service delivery.

  Among the partners receiving funding include RNIB Scotland, Fife Society for the Blind, Grampian Society for the Blind and Sight Action. As well as working with local statutory bodies such as the NHS board and local authority there is a provision within a number of the pilots to build on and develop existing local voluntary networks. The pilots recognise that peer support and advice and information from local volunteers, many of whom themselves have a sensory impairment, is important, particularly at the early stage of a sensory impairment diagnosis.

Children

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the net revenue expenditure on children and family services was by (a) Dundee City and (b) Angus Council in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Adam Ingram: The following table provides net revenue expenditure by Dundee City and Angus councils on children and family services from 2005-06 to 2007-08. This information is reported by councils to the Scottish Government in the annual local financial return for social work.

  

Council
2005-06 (£000)
2006-07 (£000)
2007-08 (£000)


Dundee City
19,131
21,381
22,301


Angus
9,848
10,893
12,728



  Source: LFR 3 returns.

Children’s Hearings

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the life outcomes of those children who go through the children’s hearings system and, if so, how many have (a) remained in school education beyond the age of 16, (b) advanced to tertiary education, (c) gone into employment following the conclusion of their education, (e) had known substance dependency problems, (f) registered as homeless or (d) entered (i) a young offenders institution or (ii) an adult prison in the last 15 years, also expressed as a percentage.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally, however Scottish Government does collect statistics on children who become Looked After, most of whom will have gone through the children’s hearing system. Information about the outcomes of looked after young people eligible for aftercare services is reported annually in the Children Looked After Statistics and is available from the Scottish Government website.

Community Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30099 by Shona Robison on 18 January 2010, how it is monitoring the consistency of care charges across local authorities.

Shona Robison: COSLA will publish its 2010-11 guidance on charging for non-residential social care services later this month. They are also in the process of establishing an online facility to allow councils to benchmark their own charging policies. In addition, there will be a public-facing website that will allow members of the public to look at each council’s charging policy within a single site.

  We continue to support the aim of the COSLA guidance and will continue to work with COSLA in joint partnership to achieve greater consistency, whilst allowing for local authority discretion in ensuring that charges are reasonable for each individual client.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are incarcerated at HMP Edinburgh for carrying a knife or other offensive weapon.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  There are currently 65 prisoners in HMP Edinburgh with an offence of "carry a knife" or "offensive weapon".

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people received methadone in each NHS board area in each of the last five years.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether drug misusers have faster access to appropriate treatment to support their recovery, as outlined in the NHS Scotland Performance Targets for 2009-10.

Fergus Ewing: In July to September 2009, 72% (5,060 clients) of those offered an appointment for assessment were offered a date within 14 days of referral compared to 66% (4,674) during April to June 2009.

  Of those who were still waiting for an appointment for assessment, 7% (122 clients) had waited more than 52 weeks by the end of September 2009 compared to 11% (216 clients) in July 2009.

  Of those who were offered a treatment intervention date (4,083 clients) during July to September 2009, 94% (3,845 clients) were offered first treatment within four weeks of care plan being agreed.

  These figures are drawn from data submitted by all drug treatment services to ISD. Historically, there have been concerns about the quality of, and compliance with, submission of drug treatment waiting times data which have limited the scope to make comparisons over time.

  The Scottish Government target, "To offer drug misusers faster access to appropriate treatment to support their recovery" 2009 to 2010 is within it’s developmental year with the target going live from April 2010. The HEAT target that ‘by March 2013, 90% of clients will wait no longer than three weeks from referral received to appropriate drug or alcohol treatment that supports their recovery’ was agreed with NHS boards and announced in November 2009. Progress made by NHS boards is, therefore, prior to the measurable HEAT target.

  As a first step to the 2013 target it is expected that, by December 2010, 90% of clients will be offered an assessment date that falls within four weeks of the referral date and 90% of clients will be offered a treatment date that falls within four weeks of the assessment date.

  Baseline data gathered during the April to June (2009) audit of drug treatment waiting times is being used to monitor progress towards the performance indicators set for December 2010.

Education

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reforms the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning plans to implement to address illiteracy and improve the standards of reading and writing in schools.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to improving literacy for everyone in Scotland. Curriculum for Excellence has literacy at its heart and, for the first time, is now the responsibility of all teachers. It is designed to improve the quality of learning and teaching, and to raise literacy standards.

  Our young people will learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, listening and talking, and, equally importantly, how these skills can be applied critically to analyse and evaluate information.

  I committed to bring forward a literacy action plan within the context of Curriculum for Excellence, and we are discussing its content with our partners. As part of this process, I met with the Literacy Commission on 14 January 2010 and today the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board met with members of the Literacy Commission to discuss taking forward the recommendations of their recent report.

Energy Efficiency

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, given the potential additional energy costs associated with wrongly rated energy performance certificates, what its position is on the ability of commercial organisations to rely on the accuracy of information in building energy performance certificates when making decisions regarding locating or relocating their businesses.

Stewart Stevenson: All Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are produced using an asset based rating that follows the methodology framework set out in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The rating shown on the EPC states the energy efficiency of a building based on the standardised way that the building is used. EPCs for existing buildings are produced by organisation approved by Scottish ministers, who ensure thatthe preparation and issuing of certificates is carried out in a consistent, accurate and independent manner. Concerns relating to the accuracy of an EPC for an existing should be referred to the approved organisation through their complaints procedure.

  The European Union have revisited the EPBD and are currently considering the robustness of EPC production set out in the original Directive.

Energy Efficiency

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to commitments set out in its published environmental policy, what its position is on the need for a reassessment of the method of reporting of building energy usage as described in the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and for the actual rather than theoretical energy usage of buildings to be recorded and made public.

Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to amend the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) used in Scotland complies with the terms of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The Regulations will be reviewed in light of any changes to EPBD. Work is in progress to investigate the benefits that operational ratings could play in future regulations for existing non-domestic buildings under section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Energy Efficiency

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, given that building energy certificates can significantly underreport the actual energy consumption of a building, whether it considers that commercial organisations might come under financial pressure as a result of relying on the information in such certificates.

Stewart Stevenson: The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) does not require the actual energy consumption of a building to be reported. Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are calculated using an asset rating and as a consequence it is considered that commercial organisations are less likely to come under financial pressure.

Energy Efficiency

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a scheme equivalent to the English system that takes account of the actual energy usage of a building as occupied rather than its theoretical usage as provided at the planning and building stage.

Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to amend the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008. The Regulations will be reviewed in light of any changes to EPBD. Work is in progress to investigate the benefits that operational ratings could play in future regulations for existing non-domestic buildings under section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Energy Efficiency

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, given its commitments evidenced in both primary and secondary legislation to set future energy usage targets, whether it uses information contained in building energy performance certificates as one of its base measurements of energy use.

Stewart Stevenson: The methodology used in the production of EPCs is used to assess and report on the Scottish Government’s policy objective to reduce carbon dioxide emissions arising from new buildings.

Energy Efficiency

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the view expressed by the Chairman of the EU Energy Performance Buildings Directive Implementation Advisory Group that the method of displaying energy certificate ratings in Scotland is "quite meaningless".

Stewart Stevenson: Scotland complies with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) through the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 in terms of displaying Energy Performance Certificates.

Energy Efficiency

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31764 by Richard Lochhead on 4 March 2010, what action it is taking to ensure that all unnecessary lighting across its core estate is switched off on a daily basis.

John Swinney: Where practical, computer-controlled Building Management Systems (BMS) are replacing manual systems to improve energy efficiency benefits. As part of our target to reduce our environmental impact, the lighting system at the largest Scottish government building, Victoria Quay, is being upgraded with lower energy consumption fittings, day light harvesting and both manual and automatic controls. Lighting systems in a number of other Scottish Government buildings include sweeps at pre-programmed times of the day to switch lights off. There is a rolling programme across the Scottish Government estate to upgrade lighting systems where practical with energy efficient fittings and sensor controls. Timer switches are also being considered where a full BMS is not cost effective or practical.

  We endeavour to switch off unnecessary lighting when we can but in some instances there will be a requirement to have lighting on for health and safety and security reasons, or where contractors are working outwith standard office hours.

Energy Efficiency

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that all non-essential mains-powered electronic appliances and devices across its estate are switched off when not in use.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued, or intends to issue, advice to staff about ensuring that unnecessary lighting, IT equipment and other mains-powered electronic equipment is switched off when not in use.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government promotes to all staff its Environmental Policy which includes the commitment to use energy efficiently to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency campaigns have taken place in the largest Scottish Government buildings and a rolling programme of campaigns is currently being developed to support the Scottish Government’s Carbon Management Plan. The objective of these campaigns is to improve staff culture through focussed awareness of common areas of energy wastage, with corrective measures suggested and recorded. Signs have been posted in work and common areas in our buildings to encourage staff to switch off office lighting and equipment when not in use. Energy awareness is highlighted frequently on the Scottish Government intranet and in support of national events such as Earth Hour, World Environment Day and Energy Saving Week.

  The Scottish Government’s network of Environmental Guardians – members of staff who volunteer to help to improve our environmental performance – is an integral part of our approach to environmental management. Environmental Guardian training includes energy awareness sessions to help them recognise and encourage good environmental practice amongst their colleagues.

Finance

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its favoured model is for dividing UK assets and liabilities in the event of Scottish independence.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates Scotland’s share of the UK national debt will be in the event of Scottish independence.

Bruce Crawford: The proportion of the UK national debt assigned to Scotland under independence would be subject to negotiation as part of a revised constitutional settlement.

  The Scottish Government believes any apportionment of the UK national debt should take into consideration the historic balance of expenditures and revenues in Scotland relative to the UK as a whole. For example, the recent Scotland Office report Time Series Analysis of Government Expenditures and Revenues in Scotland estimated Scotland’s fiscal position between 1980-81 and 2007-08 including an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue. The results suggest that, over this period, Scotland’s cumulative deficit would have been 40% smaller than if it was assigned a per capita share of the UK’s deficit.

Firearms

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31606 by Kenny MacAskill on 3 March 2010 stating that the deployment and use of firearms is an operational matter for chief constables, whether it would consider the issuing of firearms to every frontline police officer to constitute an operational matter for chief constables.

Kenny MacAskill: We would not support a fully armed police force. But firearms legislation is reserved and is the responsibility of the UK Government. The Scottish Government continues to press for firearms legislation to be devolved, which would provide the Scottish Parliament with power to legislate on this issue.

Firearms

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the statement made by the First Minister in the chamber on 4 February 2010 that "it would be appropriate if we allowed the chief constable of Strathclyde Police to have his pilot studies and to analyse the results" ( Official Report c. 23538) correlates with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s position that the deployment and use of Tasers is an operational matter for chief constables.

Kenny MacAskill: The First Minister’s statement is entirely consistent with my position. The deployment and use of firearms is an operational matter for chief constables. Strathclyde Police is responsible for drawing up the terms of reference for the pilot and its evaluation.

Firearms

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that issuing Tasers to police officers trained in their use who are not authorised firearms officers is going beyond their current use as a means to try to negate the requirement to use proper firearms.

Kenny MacAskill: Tasers are a proportionate method of providing for the safety of police officers and members of the public. The deployment and use of tasers and other firearms is an operational matter for chief constables. Strathclyde Police is responsible for drawing up the terms of reference for the recently announced pilot and its evaluation.

Food Standards

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines there are for the sale of energy drinks to (a) people under 16 and (b) pregnant women.

Shona Robison: Currently, there are no specific guidelines on the sale of energy drinks to these groups of people.

  One of the main ingredients of energy drinks is caffeine, and the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended) require caffeine to be indicated in the ingredients list when used as a flavouring or ingredient. In the case of drinks containing high levels of caffeine (in excess of 150 milligrams per litre), the Regulations require containers to carry the declaration "High caffeine content" in the same field of vision as the name of the drink.

Food Standards

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it would give to retailers regarding the sale of energy drinks to (a) people under 16 and (b) pregnant women.

Shona Robison: As most energy drink manufacturers advise through voluntary warning labelling that such products are not suitable for consumption by children, retailers, in acting responsibly, would wish to take account of such warnings and not sell such drinks to children. However, there are no specific guidelines regarding the sale of energy drinks.

  Regarding pregnant women, the Food Standards Agency Scotland advises that pregnant women should limit their daily caffeine intake, ideally keeping this below 200mg a day.

Football

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all costs associated with its sponsorship of the Scottish Cup for the (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 football seasons.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not sponsor the Scottish Cup.

  In 2008, Mr Willie Haughey of City Refrigeration Holdings, arranged with the Scottish Football Association (SFA), to sponsor the Scottish Cup for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 football seasons. Mr Haughey donated the activation rights for these two years to the Scottish Government.

  In 2008-09, the Scottish Cup was used as a platform to promote Homecoming and health initiatives to Scots. In 2009-10, the Cup has been branded the Active Nation Scottish Cup as part of the Active Nation campaign, which encourages people of all ages and abilities to be more active.

  The Cup was taken on tour in partnership with the Scottish FA, where 6,000 school pupils took part in coaching sessions and over 20,000 healthy eating advice booklets were distributed.

  The media evaluation following the Homecoming Scottish Cup 2008-09 delivered brand exposure for Homecoming worth £3.26 million across television, radio, online and press. Television alone delivered nine hours of brand exposure for Homecoming.

  Activation costs associated with the Homecoming Scottish Cup in 2008-09 were £517,287 including VAT.

  Active Nation Scottish Cup costs will be made available following the conclusion of the Cup campaign in May 2010. To date, expenditure is £330,364 including VAT. Please note that expenditure is not yet reconciled beyond 31 March 2009 and figures may be subject to change. Expenditure in both 2008-09 and 2009-10 includes some mandatory site branding required by contract by the Scottish FA.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP surgeries have available for patients the information leaflet on deep vein thrombosis discussed in the letter to the Public Petitions Committee from the Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate dated 5 March 2008.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.

  The patient information leaflet on Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) was distributed to all general practices in April 2008 for display in surgeries. As a result of concerns about its availability, an electronic version was sent to general practices in May 2009 with a covering letter from the Chief Medical Officer asking for it to be displayed and also drawn to the attention of those considered by their general practitioner to be at particular risk of developing DVT.

  This approach is an interim measure until the revised Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 62 on Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is published this October. SIGN will promote implementation of the recommendations in the revised Guideline by GPs and other healthcare professionals.

Health

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many people and (b) what percentage of the population were (i) overweight, (ii) obese and (iii) morbidly obese in each of the last five years, broken down by (A) NHS board area, (B) deprivation quintile, (C) age range and (D) gender.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Health Survey 2008 report contains the latest data on (i) overweight, (ii) obesity and (iii) morbid obesity in Scotland.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28102003/0.

  Data are not available for the last five years as the Scottish Health Survey was previously run in 1995, 1998 and 2003. It became a continuous survey in 2008 and will report annually from now on.

  (A) Breakdowns are not yet available for NHS board areas. From 2008, the survey was designed to provide NHS board breakdowns after four years of data collection. Breakdowns for all NHS boards will not therefore be produced until data for the period 2008-11 are available.

  (B) Table 7.10 of the publication provides a breakdown by SIMD deprivation quintile.

  (C) and (D) Table 7.4 includes information broken down by age and gender for 2008 for adults age 16+. Table 7.5 provides information for each of the four years on which the survey has been run for adults aged 16 to 64. Tables 7.6 and 7.7 contain similar information for children.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to allow patients with heart failure access to cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

Nicola Sturgeon: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) services are provided by each of the three regional planning groups, based on a common protocol to ensure consistency of access across Scotland.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been referred to the Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Service in each year since its inception in 2005, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested, which relates to the national services provided by the Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Service, is included in the following table:

  Referrals to the Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Service

  

NHS Board
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Ayrshire and Arran
12
7
12
27


Borders
1
1
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
2
2
3
0


Fife 
1
2
10
6


Forth Valley
11
7
10
9


Grampian
1
2
2
6


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
29
35
76
68


Highland
7
6
6
9


Lanarkshire
8
21
21
19


Lothian
7
7
10
12


Orkney
0
0
0
0


Shetland
0
0
0
0


Tayside
10
4
9
4


Western Isles
0
0
1
6



  Source: National Services Division, NHS National Service Scotland.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cardiac resynchronisation procedures have been carried out by the Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Service in each year since 2005.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is given in the following table. As the Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) service operates on a regional basis, the table includes equivalent information on all of the centres providing CRT.

  

 
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Golden Jubilee National Hospital
N/A
N/A
N/A
1261
1422


Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
28
30
25
45
552


Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
12
10
14
15
332



  Source: Service managers and Cardiac Managed Clinical Networks.

  Notes:

  1. The Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) service for the West of Scotland transferred to the National Centre for the Treatment of Advanced Heart Failure at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in April 2008. Prior to that, the service was provided at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

  2. Includes referrals up to February 2010.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards offer cardiac resynchronisation therapy undertaken by clinicians in hospitals in their areas.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards offer Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy, which is organised on a regional basis. The service is provided at:

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary;

  the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, and

  the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting time is for treatment at the Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Service.

Nicola Sturgeon: Patients referred to the Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Service are treated within the national waiting time guarantee of 12 weeks, which will reduce to nine weeks at the end of March this year. It should be borne in mind, however, that waiting times for heart transplantation are dependent on the availability of suitable organs.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive at what level of service change in primary care it requires the Scottish Health Council to be consulted about the process of patient focus and public involvement.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recently issued guidance - Informing, Engaging and Consulting People in Developing Health and Community Care Services – to assist NHS boards with their engagement with patients and the public on the delivery of local healthcare services. The guidance states that NHS boards should keep the Scottish Health Council informed about proposed service changes, including primary care services, so that it can provide the NHS board with advice and support in involving potentially affected people in the consultation process. For those changes considered to be major, the Scottish Health Council has a more formal role in quality assuring the consultation process as it develops. A copy of the guidance can be found on the SHOW website via the following link http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/publications/publication.asp?offset=20 .

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have (a) a neurological condition other than stroke, (b) epilepsy, (c) motor neurone disease and (d) Parkinson’s disease.

Shona Robison: Precise figures are not available.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in the introduction to its clinical standards for neurological health services refers to estimates that 10 million people in the UK live with some form of neurological condition that has an impact on their lives. The Neurological Alliance of Scotland estimates that the figure for Scotland would be around 1 million people.

  In Scotland, there are around 40,000 people with epilepsy, 300 people with Motor Neurone Disease and 10,000 people with Parkinson’s Disease at any one time.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) total and (b) each NHS board area received treatment for heart disease in the last year for which figures are available.

Shona Robison: Data on the range of treatments for heart disease are provided in the Coronary Heart Disease section of the Information Services Division Website:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5780.html.

  The website includes data on:

  prescriptions for cardiovascular diseases;

  operations;

  hospital admissions, and

  consultations relating to heart disease with either a GP or a practice nurse.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it expects to be users of secondary services for neurological conditions other than stroke by (a) 2015, (b) 2020 and (c) 2025.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

  The introduction to the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standards for neurological health services notes that neurological conditions currently account for one in five emergency hospital admissions and a high proportion of severe and progressive disability in the population.

  The Neurological Services Task and Finish Group, the outputs of which were issued as CEL 3 (2010) on 4 February, considers it likely that an annual growth in demand of at least 5% a year will be seen over the next five years or so. Consideration is being given to commissioning a piece of public health work to gain a better understanding of the likely rise in future demand.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to support the implementation of its (a) Clinical Standards - Neurological Health Services and (b) forthcoming clinical standards for (i) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (ii) prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease in the first year after publication.

Shona Robison: In addition to the salary costs associated with the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) staff supporting the implementation of the clinical standards for neurological health services, NHS QIS has identified a budget of just over £142,000 for the first year of its Implementation and Improvement Support Plan.

  NHS QIS clinical standards for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) are due for publication in April 2010. Discussions are currently under way with a range of stakeholders on the further work is needed. The outcome will enable NHS QIS to make decisions about the scale of the investment required to implement an improvement programme for its COPD standards.

  In addition to its earlier work on the CHD clinical standards, NHS QIS is also investing some £165,000 in the first year of supporting implementation of its Coronary Heart Disease improvement programme.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the development of a common dataset for neurological health services.

Shona Robison: Standard 1 of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standards for neurological health services highlights the importance of consistent and ongoing data collection to allow NHS boards to monitor and review service provision on an ongoing basis for the purpose of service improvement. To promote consistency, a Neurological Services Data and Audit Group has been set up to identify and agree a common dataset for all neurological services.

  An early priority for NHS QIS is to develop the measures that will demonstrate the extent to which the standards are being achieved. This is likely to involve both the use of local tracking systems and existing national data sources, identifying new ones where required.

  In addition, NHS QIS will work with the Information Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland and the Neurological Alliance of Scotland to review the information available in the Multiple Sclerosis Register, set up with government provided funding of £70,000, for its use as a potential data source.

Health

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what initial revenue resources are being made available to NHS boards and Special Health Boards for 2010-11.

Nicola Sturgeon: Total initial revenue resources of £8.464 billion are being allocated to NHS boards and Special Health Boards for 2010-11.

  Each territorial Board will receive, as a minimum, an uplift in revenue resources in 2010-11 of 2.55% with those boards who are below NRAC parity receiving higher increases.

  Each Special Health Board will receive an uplift of 2.15%.

  Details of NHS boards and Special Health Boards initial general revenue allocations for 2010-11 are as follows:

  

 
Initial Allocation 2010-11 £ Million
Uplift 2010-11%


NHS Boards
 
 


Ayrshire and Arran
570.2
2.55%


Borders
166.0
2.55%


Dumfries and Galloway
238.3
2.55%


Fife
502.9
2.80%


Forth Valley
393.8
2.85%


Grampian
678.5
2.82%


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,871.4
2.55%


Highland
480.6
2.55%


Lanarkshire
798.4
2.94%


Lothian
1,018.2
3.14%


Orkney
31.3
2.63%


Shetland
36.8
2.55%


Tayside
592.9
2.55%


Western Isles
58.1
2.55%


Total NHS Boards
7,437.4
2.73%


Special Health Boards
 
 


Scottish Ambulance Service
197.1
2.15%


NHS National services Scotland
256.6
2.15%


NHS 24
57.2
2.15%


THE State Hospitals Board for Scotland
35.5
2.15%


NHS National Waiting Times Centre 
42.1
2.15%


NHS National Education Scotland
399.4
2.15%


NHS Health Scotland
21.5
2.15%


NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
17.2
2.15%


Total Special Health Boards
1,026.6
2.15%


Total
8,464.0
2.66%

Heritage

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on Scotland’s maritime heritage.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises the great importance of Scotland’s maritime heritage. Just last month we passed the Marine (Scotland) Bill to allow us to create Historic Marine Protected Areas for our heritage at sea. Around our coast, heritage designations already recognise the significance of 107 historic lighthouses and 90 harbours. We are also investing in our maritime heritage. Over the last five years, Historic Scotland’s Building Repair Grant Scheme has contributed £2.5 million. Over the last two years, Museums and Galleries Scotland has invested approximately £1.3 million in Scottish Government funding towards maritime heritage through its grants schemes.

Higher Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers, particularly the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and the Minister for Culture and External Affairs, are aware of plans by the University of Strathclyde to end its BA in Applied Music course.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence or other communication Scottish ministers have had with the University of Strathclyde regarding the university’s plans to end its BA in Applied Music course.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish ministers have carried out an assessment of the impact on Scottish cultural life of the University of Strathclyde ending its BA in Applied Music course.

Michael Russell: Both ministers are aware. However, academic provision at the University of Strathclyde is a matter for the university, not Scottish ministers.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are regarding the implementation of the reforms recommended by Lord Gill in The Report of the Scottish Civil Courts Review and what progress is being made.

Kenny MacAskill: Progress has been made on recommendations with which the government agrees, including proposals for the codification by the Court of Session of court rules for McKenzie Friends and the Government’s consideration of a stage two amendment to the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill enabling lay representation in court.

  Other proposals which may be implemented without primary legislation are also under active consideration, including the Court of Session Rules Council’s consideration of recommendations on both multi-party actions and protective cost orders in public interest litigation, and the government’s consideration of the requirements for a review of the cost and funding of litigation.

  The large group of recommendations for structural changes to the judicial hierarchy and for the different handling of cases in the proposed new structures are closely intertwined and currently subject to a costing exercise being undertaken jointly by the Scottish Court Service and the Scottish Government; the costs of recommended reform will be jointly considered by the government and the judicial working group established by the Lord President before the government publish a formal response to the recommendations, later in 2010.

  The government intends to issue proposals for public consultation in 2011.

Kinship Care

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S3O-8282 by Adam Ingram on 5 November 2009 ( Official Report c. 20919), what progress has been made in bringing together a meeting of key local authority representatives to learn from those authorities that are delivering effective support for kinship carers.

Adam Ingram: Following the release of the latest Children Looked After Statistics on 24 February 2010, I now intend to consider with local authorities what further support, through meetings or otherwise, they would find useful in discharging their duties to looked after children, including those in kinship care.

Medical Negligence

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board contributed to the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS) in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows:

  

NHS Board
2004-05 £
2005-06 £
2006-07 £
2007-08 £
2008-09 £


Argyll and Clyde
772,731
345,086
-
-
-


Ayrshire and Arran
612,786
298,485
-
1,292,709
1,657,764


Borders
174,897
86,940
-
290,206
475,669


Dumfries and Galloway
286,905
124,383
-
458,674
696,132


Fife
539,780
271,832
-
761,613
1,484,749


Forth Valley
449,005
218,848
-
716,914
1,341,831


Grampian
826,860
428,820
-
1,538,170
3,105,514


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,933,678
977,785
-
4,495,187
6,988,817


Highland
375,037
187,785
-
930,499
1,145,642


Lanarkshire
807,649
459,289
-
1,509,333
2,402,375


Lothian
1,195,891
634,569
-
2,534,687
4,554,025


Orkney
32,881
24,485
-
40,990
58,708


Shetland
35,782
16,466
-
53,702
77,039


Tayside
725,762
368,805
-
1,435,642
2,540,928


Western Isles
59,357
25,715
-
74,763
99,089


The State Hospital
10,890
1,870
-
22,370
19,049


Common Services Agency 
146,504
-
-
-
-


Scottish Ambulance Service
63,564
25,077
-
158,158
254,207


NHS 24
5,159
911
-
22,548
28,013


National Waiting Times Centre
5,196
924
-
11,623
26,348


Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
984
-
-
7,593
512


NHS Education
16,527
-
-
9,811
3,763


NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
1,343
-
-
7,767
1,987


NHS Health Scotland
1,671
-
-
8,081
2,326


NHS National Services Scotland
-
1,924
-
71,570
63,791


Total
9,080,839
4,499,999
-
16,452,610
27,028,278



  Prior to 2007-08, NHS boards’ contributions were made to the clinical negligence risk sharing pool at the start of each year and based on an estimate of the level of claims likely to settle in that year. As there were sufficient funds remaining in the pool in 2006-07, no additional contributions were made by boards in that year. Since 2007-08 contributions made at year end when the actual costs of settled claims are known.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address the deficit incurred by the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration as of March 2009.

Fergus Ewing: The deficit incurred by the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration during 2008-09 was met by transferring underspend from elsewhere in Health Directorate General’s budget that year to the administration. Through a programme of efficiencies and savings the administration is projected to meet its budget allocation for 2009-10.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is allocated to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Fergus Ewing: The total budget allocated to the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland is £9.75 million for 2009-10 and £9.5 million for 2010-11.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what efficiency savings the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland is expected to make in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 and how these savings will be measured.

Fergus Ewing: The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration is expected to come in on budget at £9.75 million in 2009-10 and £9.5 million in 2010-11. These levels of expenditure represent savings of 7% and 9.5% respectively using expenditure in 2008-09 of £10.5 million as a base. Key measures for tracking savings include the number of hearing days when more than one case is considered by the tribunal and the numbers of hearings per case.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland expects to complete a memorandum of understanding with each local authority.

Fergus Ewing: The Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland Administration is seeking to sign-off agreed memoranda of understanding with all local authorities in Scotland by the end of April 2010.

Mental Health

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice published in 2005 is the most recent Scottish Government code of practice for that act.

Nicola Sturgeon: I can confirm that the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice (statutory guidance) which was published on 21 September 2005 is the most recent Scottish Government code of practice for that act.

NHS Hospitals

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is regarding the closure of cottage hospitals in rural areas.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are committed to providing healthcare services as locally as appropriate and possible.

  Within the framework of national priorities and guidance, NHS boards are responsible for planning and providing local services and the infrastructure that supports them. In doing so they require to review services and facilities regularly to ensure that they continue to reflect local needs and to provide the best quality healthcare services. Where appropriate, they also need to redesign services in the interest of ensuring that they are modern and efficient. Boards normally undertake wide stakeholder engagement to help in developing options for redesign. They also require to carry out formal public consultation on any proposal for major service change. In such circumstances, ministers normally require to approve the proposals and they reserve the right to subject proposals to independent scrutiny.

Nursing

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified midwives have (a) applied to and (b) received assistance under the one year job guarantee scheme for nurses and midwives since the scheme’s inception.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of newly qualified midwives who have applied to and received assistance under the One Year Job Guarantee Scheme since its inception is set out below:

  One Year Job Guarantee Scheme - Midwifery

  

2002-03
22


2003-04
25


2004-05
7


2005-06
7


2006-07
23


2007-08
29


2008-09
43


2009-10 (to date)
32



  All those who apply to the scheme receive assistance to find a job although the majority of newly qualified staff secure a job through their own efforts.

Nursing

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unsuccessful job applications newly qualified midwives are expected to have made before they are eligible for the one year job guarantee scheme for nurses and midwives.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of job applications newly qualified midwives should make before applying to the One Year Job Guarantee Scheme is not specified in guidance. However, applicants may be asked by NHS Education for Scotland (who administer the scheme) to provide written evidence of up to three applications made, such as copies of application forms, letters and/or details of other contacts.

Parkinson’s Disease

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that everyone with Parkinson’s disease has access to a Parkinson’s disease nurse specialist.

Shona Robison: Standard 17 of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Clinical Standards for Neurological Health Services requires an effective and comprehensive Parkinson’s disease service to be delivered through a multidisciplinary team, including a Parkinson’s disease nurse specialist. Standard 18.2 is that patients with Parkinson’s disease and their carers are provided with ongoing access to a Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist.

  At the same time as the formal launch of the clinical standards, on 21 January 2010, NHS QIS published an Implementation and Improvement Support Plan to assist NHS boards in achieving the standards. It is complemented by the work of the Scottish Government’s Neurological Services Task & Finish Group, issued to NHSScotland as CEL 3 (2010) on 4 February 2010.

Parkinson’s Disease

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will help to ensure that all carers for people with Parkinson’s disease are told about their right to a carer’s assessment.

Shona Robison: The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, as amended by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, gives substantial and regular carers the right to request an assessment of their ability to provide or to continue to provide care. It also requires local authorities to inform carers of their potential right to a carer’s assessment. Those provisions of course apply to the carers of people with Parkinson’s disease.

  Scottish Government guidance on NHS Carer Information Strategies requires that NHS boards include measures to identify carers, give targeted information, signpost to appropriate services and make carers aware of their right to an assessment. The strategies are supported with funding of £9 million over the three years to March 2011.

  The Young Carers and Carers Strategy for Scotland, to be published by this summer, will highlight good practice in carrying out carers’ assessments.

Parkinson’s Disease

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that people with Parkinson’s disease are given early access to physiotherapy to help keep them mobile and prevent falls.

Shona Robison: Standard 17 of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) Clinical Standards for Neurological Health Services requires care to be delivered by a defined Parkinson’s Disease multi-disciplinary team that specifically includes physiotherapy. Standard 19 stipulates that patients with Parkinson’s Disease and their carers have ongoing access to the specialist team.

  As noted in the answer to question S3W-32083 on 11 March 2010, the standards will be taken forward through the NHS QIS Implementation and Improvement Support Plan and the materials made available to NHS boards from the Neurological Services Task & Finish Group.

  This is complemented by the work on falls prevention being taken forward as part of implementation of our Delivery Framework for Adult Rehabilitation, published in February 2007. The Practice Development Unit at NHS QIS is supporting a national, multi-agency programme of falls and fracture prevention. The falls prevention pathway should identify someone with Parkinson’s disease who is considered to be at particular risk of falling.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the occupancy rate at HMP Kilmarnock for each week from January 2010.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The occupancy of HMP Kilmarnock on the Friday of each week in 2010 is as follows:

  Number of Prisoners

  

Date
 


1 January
530


8 January
536


15 January
548


22 January
540


29 January
547


5 February
547


12 February
541


19 February
547


26 February
546


5 March
542

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current capacity is at HMP Kilmarnock.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The contract for HMP Kilmarnock is for the provision of 500 available prisoner places. The contract also allows for the provision of additional prisoner places if the authority require and the contractor is currently contracted to provide 548 prisoner places.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with First ScotRail regarding reimbursing or ameliorating any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and First ScotRail.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use in determining whether to reimburse or ameliorate any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Stewart Stevenson: The arrangements put in place during the previous administration and signed by the SRA and by SPT remain unchanged. This has been confirmed to First ScotRail.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) regarding reimbursing or ameliorating any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the RMT.

Stewart Stevenson: I met with the RMT on 5 January. This matter was not raised but I can confirm the arrangements put in place during the previous administration and signed by the SRA and by SPT remain unchanged.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will formally seek the views of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) regarding reimbursing or ameliorating any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the RMT.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has decided to reimburse or ameliorate any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on whether to reimburse or ameliorate any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it expects to reimburse or ameriolate First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Stewart Stevenson: No information on any actual losses incurred by First ScotRail as a result of industrial action has been received.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from First ScotRail regarding reimbursing or ameliorating any losses incurred by First ScotRail in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31627 on 11 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether First ScotRail has provided an estimated figure of the losses it might incur in the event of industrial action in relation to the current dispute between it and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Stewart Stevenson: First ScotRail has provided a range of estimated figures of the losses it might incur in the event of industrial action, however, any actual losses will depend on the extent of industrial action taken.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it holds records on the services operated by First ScotRail as driver-only services without a second onboard person.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has asked First ScotRail for details of which services have operated as driver-only services without a second onboard person.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all information it has received from First ScotRail regarding the operation of driver-only services without a second onboard person.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with First ScotRail regarding reports that a number of First ScotRail services have operated as driver-only services without a second onboard person.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the Franchise Agreement all First ScotRail services are required to be planned with two members of staff.

  Transport Scotland measures this under the Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) with results recorded and discussed with ScotRail.

  SQUIRE results are published on Transport Scotland’s website every quarter, which can be found at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-franchise/performance/results-for-all-trains 

  The relevant element is within On Train Customer Care.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many onboard train staff, excluding drivers, are employed by First ScotRail.

Stewart Stevenson: It is First ScotRail’s responsibility to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet its franchise obligations. First ScotRail advises that as at 17 February 2010, it employed 1,070 such staff.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the operation of driver-only services without a second onboard person constitutes a breach of its franchise agreement with First ScotRail.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the franchise agreement all First ScotRail services are required to be planned with two members of staff.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31643 on 11 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions can be applied in the event of a breach of its franchise agreement with First ScotRail.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the sanctions that have been applied for breaches of its franchise agreement with First ScotRail.

Stewart Stevenson: A breach is not a defined term in the franchise agreement. Event of Default and Termination Event are defined terms. There have been no Events of Default and no Termination Event since the commencement of the current franchise in 2004.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff First ScotRail needs to employ, excluding drivers, to ensure that all services have an additional member of staff.

Stewart Stevenson: It is First ScotRail’s responsibility to ensure the necessary resources are in place to meet its franchise obligations. First ScotRail advises that as at 17 February 2010, it employs 967 such staff.

Regeneration

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it allocated to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in each of the last five years.

Alex Neil: The amount of grant offered to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust over the last five financial years to March 2010 is set out in the following table:

  

Financial Year
£ Million


2005-06
1.589


2006-07
1.570


2007-08
1.567


2008-09
1.575


2009-10
1.575

Road Accidents

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many serious accidents have been recorded on roads in Midlothian since 1999, broken down by (a) year and (b) road.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported serious accidents on Midlothian roads since 1999.

  

Road
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


A1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


A6093
-
1
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
-


A6094
7
2
1
4
-
-
9
3
3
3


A6106
2
1
1
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


A6124
-
1
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
-


A68
2
4
3
3
1
1
3
8
2
1


A7
2
6
2
1
1
2
1
-
5
1


A701
2
2
2
2
1
3
1
2
3
5


A702
3
3
2
5
3
3
2
2
4
2


A703
1
2
1
2
-
2
-
-
1
1


A720
2
1
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
-


A768
1
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


A8000
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


A90
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


B6372
1
-
-
1
1
-
2
-
-
1


B6392
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
1


B6414
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


B6415
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


B6482
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


B7003
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


B7006
-
1
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-


B7026
1
1
1
-
1
2
-
1
-
-


B704
1
-
-
1
-
-
1
1
-
1


Unclassified
10
23
19
19
21
6
30
17
21
13


Total
36
52
34
42
32
21
52
34
42
29

Road Accidents

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accidents have been recorded on roads in Midlothian since 1999, broken down by (a) year and (b) road.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported fatal accidents on Midlothian roads since 1999.

  

Road
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


A6094
3
-
-
-
1
1
1
-
-
-


A68
1
-
1
1
-
-
-
1
-
-


A701
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
1


A702
-
2
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-


A703
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-


B7003
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


B702
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-


B7026
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-


B704
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
-


Unclassified
1
-
1
1
3
1
-
1
2
2


Total
5
3
2
3
6
2
2
3
4
3

Roads

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what works it is undertaking to upgrade the trunk road network over the next five years and what the (a) cost and (b) estimated completion date is of each project.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the Motorway and Trunk Road programme document which can be found on the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/motorway-and-trunk-road-programme.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what future improvement schemes are planned for the (a) A702, (b) A701, (c) A7, (d) A68, (e) A75, (f) A76, (g) A77 and (h) A1.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the Motorway and Trunk Road programme document which can be found on the Transport Scotland Website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/motorway-and-trunk-road-programme.

  In addition, the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended investment in many of these roads to be brought forward in future road improvement programmes as and when budget allocations allow. The STPR Reports can be found on the Transport Scotland website at:

  www.transportscotland.gov.uk.

Scottish Water

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Futures Trust officials have met representatives of Macquarie Bank to discuss future funding models for Scottish Water.

John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows:

  I can confirm that officials from the Scottish Futures Trust have met with representatives of Macquarie Bank. This was in line with our Corporate Plan undertaking of collaborating with other interested parties, to work-up, and assess options to increase the efficiency of funding for Scottish Water, whilst retaining public ownership, that could be considered by Scottish Ministers.

Smoking

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many people and (b) what percentage of the population are estimated to have smoked in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) NHS board area, (ii) deprivation quintile, (iii) age range and (iv) gender.

Shona Robison: The answer is presented in the following tables:

  Table 1a. Smoking Prevalence by Health Board.

  

Health Board
1999-2000
2001-02
2003-04
2005-06
2007-08


 
%
%
%
%
%


Ayrshire and Arran
30.3
25.3
29.9
26.7
26.0


Borders
23.8
21.4
24.5
24.8
21.9


Dumfries and Galloway
29.1
30.5
24.8
25.6
26.9


Fife
31.0
30.2
29.2
28.9
26.4


Forth Valley
30.4
29.2
27.3
26.7
28.1


Grampian
27.5
25.3
25.4
22.3
23.0


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
31.2
31.1
28.8
27.4
27.3


Highland New
26.1
26.4
26.7
25.0
22.3


Lanarkshire
33.6
29.5
29.7
29.3
28.9


Lothian
29.0
28.1
25.8
23.5
22.7


Orkney
19.7
22.2
22.6
20.2
18.9


Shetland
24.8
23.1
24.2
19.3
17.2


Tayside
31.5
29.8
25.7
26.0
24.3


Western Isles
24.6
28.9
26.9
23.9
24.0



  Table 1b. Smoking Prevalence by Deprivation

  

Deprivation Quintile*
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


 
%
%
%
%
%


1 (Most deprived)
42.2
41.4
41.0
40.1
41.4


2
30.9
30.5
29.4
32.6
30.6


3
27.0
25.3
24.9
24.1
25.2


4
20.7
20.6
17.9
18.6
17.5


5 (Least deprived)
13.2
15.1
12.8
13.8
11.2



  Table 1c. Smoking Prevalence by Age Group and Sex

  


16-24
25-34
35-44
45-59
60-74
75+
Total


 Males
%
%
%
%
%
%
%


2004
26.3
35.1
34.4
29.7
22.5
10.9
28.4


2005
28.4
29.2
28.5
30.2
23.6
11.0
27.0


2006
26.6
33.6
28.2
26.7
20.4
10.8
25.8


2007
33.7
32.3
30.1
28.1
20.0
12.3
27.6


2008
25.9
32.2
29.4
25.0
19.4
8.6
24.9


Females
%
%
%
%
%
%
%


2004
24.6
31.2
31.0
27.1
21.7
13.0
25.6


2005
28.4
29.2
28.5
30.2
23.6
11.0
26.3


2006
27.8
27.6
30.6
27.5
20.4
9.3
25.0


2007
27.3
27.6
25.3
26.8
20.6
10.8
23.9


2008
29.3
27.8
27.8
28.6
22.2
11.4
25.4



  Source for each table: Scottish Household Survey.

  Note: *2004 and 2005 uses Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2004; 2006 onwards uses SIMD 2006.

Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the impact on social care providers of local authority commissioning practices and the charge of £250 per visit in some local authority areas.

Nicola Sturgeon: Local authorities have a duty to provide or commission community care services in line with their local commissioning strategy. Updated draft guidance on social care procurement has been developed in consultation with service providers and promotes collaboration between local authorities and service providers. We are not aware of any charge being levied by local authorities on service providers as part of the commissioning process.

  The guidance can be accessed on the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/13125045/0.

Sport

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution sporting events held in Scotland involving overseas competitors make to the economy.

John Swinney: Every year international sporting events staged in this country attract international athletes, fans and supporters boosting Scotland’s economy. Events of all kind are a valuable way of driving sustainable economic growth, promoting Scotland and showcasing Scotland on a world stage.

  These events cover a range of different sports including major rugby events such as the Heineken Cup Final, last years Mountain Bike World Cup and the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships.

  International golf events are also key economic drivers, with the Open a consistent performer for Scotland. The 2007 Championship at Carnoustie generated £26.7 million and this year the Open returns to St Andrews.

Taxation

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use for the approval or rejection of local authority proposals to use tax increment financing.

John Swinney: Any decision on local authority proposals to use tax increment financing will be made on a value for money basis. Scottish Futures Trust have been asked to develop a set of criteria to inform this assessment process.

Transport

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27650 by Stewart Stevenson on 8 October 2009, what the most up-to-date estimate is of the (a) final cost and (b) completion date of the (i) Airdrie Bathgate Rail Link Project, (ii) Waverley Railway Project, (iii) Edinburgh Trams Project, (iv) Forth Replacement Crossing, (v) M74 extension, (vi) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse, (vii) M80 Stepps to Haggs upgrade and (viii) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: The most up to date estimates are shown in the following table:

  

a. Project
(a) estimated final cost
(b) estimated completion date


(i) Airdrie Bathgate Rail Link Project
£375m
December 2010


(ii) Borders Railway (formerly known as the Waverley Railway Project)
£235m - £295m 
(at 2012 prices)
2014


(iii) Edinburgh Trams project
£533m
January 2013


(iv) Forth Replacement Crossing
£1.7bn - £2.3bn
2016 - 17


(v) M74 Extension
£692m
August 2011


(vi) M8 Baillieston – Newhouse
£170m - £210m
2013 – 14


(vii) M80 Completion (Stepps to Haggs)
£320m
September 2011


(viii) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
£295m - £395m
Subject to completing the necessary statutory procedures it is expected construction will commence in 2011. Assuming Parliamentary approval is given, a review of the remaining stages of the project will be undertaken to produce a definitive completion timetable.